What can and cannot be done on Parents' Saturdays? What should you do on Trinity Saturday? Is it possible to work on Saturday before Trinity?
Trinity Parents' Saturday is an annual day of remembrance of the dead in late May and early June. The name comes from the church holiday - Trinity Day, which is celebrated on the Sunday after Parents' Saturday, when it is customary to offer prayers for all deceased Orthodox Christians.
Trinity Saturday is one of two “big” memorial days of the year
The name “parental” comes from the fact that those praying first commemorate their deceased relatives and only then other believers. Trinity Saturday is one of two “big” memorial days known as Ecumenical Parental Saturdays. Unlike private parental Saturdays, Ecumenical Saturdays are held in all Orthodox churches.
What date is Trinity Parents' Saturday?
Held annually, usually in June, less often in May, on the Saturday before Trinity Day. Like many other days on the church calendar, this is a floating date. The date of Trinity Parent Saturday changes every year:
- Trinity Parents' Saturday will be celebrated on June 15 in 2019;
- in 2018 the day was celebrated on May 26;
- In 2020, Trinity Saturday falls on June 6th.
The meaning of Trinity Parental Saturday
According to the traditions of Russian Orthodoxy, on this day they pray for the deceased. Relatives should submit funeral notes (requiem service) in advance, and on the day itself come to the temple, light candles and offer prayers. It is customary to visit cemeteries and hold funeral services. The word “parental” in the name of the memorial day means that a Christian prays for the repose of his family and friends.
Why is Trinity Parent Saturday called that?
Saturday is named after Trinity Day, which is celebrated the following day. Trinity Day is a major church festival dedicated to the Gospel tradition about the Descent of the Holy Spirit. It is believed that the Descent of the Holy Spirit marked the creation of the apostolic church. This day is also important because it marked the economy of the salvation of the human soul.
It is believed that the custom of commemorating the dead stems from the words of the holy Apostle Peter, who, addressing the Jews, said: “God raised Him up, breaking the bonds of death.” Basil of Caesarea, one of the church fathers, wrote that on this day the Lord will accept prayers even for sinners who are in hell. For this reason, the day before the Holy Trinity, Orthodox Christians pray for the repose of all dead Christians.
What to do on Trinity Parent Saturday?
On Parental Saturday, a Christian believer should come to church and offer a prayer for deceased brothers and sisters in faith. You should pray for repose at the graves of your loved ones, honor their memory and care for the graves. This is a special day to clean the tombstone, renew the cross, cut the grass in the area and around the grave, and lay flowers on it.
Funeral lunch on Trinity Saturday
The tradition of holding a funeral dinner on this day dates back to pre-Christian funeral feasts. For many centuries, in many villages it was customary to organize a large and noisy feast for dozens of people. Such events were organized in the spirit of pagan funeral feasts, but had little to do with Christian ethics and customs.
Funeral meal - to honor the memory of the deceased
The funeral meal is not held for the sake of a feast, but for the sake of honoring the memory of the deceased - to talk about them and remember them with a kind word. This is a day of family remembrance, education and the passing on of tradition, so on Trinity Saturday the whole family gathers and invites relatives.
Although many people bring treats to the graves of their deceased loved ones, from the point of view of the Orthodox faith, this is nothing more than a custom that has remained in the practice of folk life since pagan times. Therefore, from the standpoint of the Orthodox canon, this custom is reprehensible. Instead, it is better to bring Lenten products to the temple, which the priests will give to those in need. It is considered a good deed to bring Cahors (wine) to church, which will be used during the liturgy.
Trinity Saturday Service
On Friday, the day before Remembrance Day, a great memorial service (Greek: parastas) is held in churches. On Parental Saturday itself, the funeral Divine Liturgy and general memorial service are held, the priests give sermons dedicated to the deceased and their commemoration.
The day before parental Saturday, a note is submitted to the temple or church with the names of the deceased who will be remembered at the parastasis or in the liturgy. On Memorial Day, they visit the temple and pray for all the deceased. Sick and infirm believers read a prayer according to the prayer book at home.
An example of a canonical prayer for reading on Trinity Saturday
“Rest the souls before those who depart in the place of refreshment, for it is not the dead who will praise Thee, Lord, those who exist in hell dare to bring confessions to Thee, but we, the living, bless Thee and pray, and offer cleansing prayers and sacrifices to Thee for their souls.”
What date does Trinity Ecumenical Parents' Saturday fall on in 2019? What is the history and background of this event? Read about it in the article!
Trinity Ecumenical Parents' Saturday in 2019 - June 15
According to the Charter of the Ecumenical Orthodox Church, on the eve of the feast of Holy Pentecost (Trinity), a funeral service is held, as on the day of the first Ecumenical Parental Saturday, which occurs during the Meat Week before the Week (Resurrection) of the Last Judgment. This parental Saturday was called Trinity and just like Meat, it precedes the entry into fasting, which begins every week and is called Apostolic.
This commemoration of the dead dates back to the times of the apostles. Just as it is said about the establishment of meat-free parental Saturday that “the Divine Fathers received it from the holy apostles,” so one can say about the origin of Trinity Saturday. In the words of St. ap. Peter, spoken by him on the day of Pentecost, is an important indication of the beginning of the custom of remembering the dead on the day of Pentecost. The Apostle on this day, addressing the Jews, speaks of the Risen Savior: God raised Him up, breaking the bonds of death(Acts 2:24). And the Apostolic decrees tell us how the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, preached to the Jews and pagans our Savior Jesus Christ, the Judge of the living and the dead. Therefore, from ancient times the Holy Church calls on us to commemorate all the pious forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters who have departed from time immemorial before the day of the Most Holy Trinity, since on the day of Pentecost the redemption of the world was sealed by the sanctifying power of the Life-giving Most Holy Spirit, which graciously and savingly extends as to us, the living, and the dead. Both on Meat Saturday, which represents, as it were, the last day of the world, and on Trinity Saturday, which represents the last day of the Old Testament Church before the revelation of the kingdom of Christ in all its power on the Day of Pentecost, the Orthodox Church prays for all the departed fathers and brothers. On the very holiday day, in one of his prayers, he lifts up sighs to the Lord: “Rest, O Lord, the souls of Your servants, the fathers and our brothers who have fallen before the dead, and other relatives in the flesh, and all of ours in the faith, about them and We are creating memory now.”
On the Day of Pentecost, the redemption of the world was sealed by the sanctifying and perfecting power of the life-giving Holy Spirit, graciously and savingly extended to the living and the dead. Therefore, the Holy Church, both on Meat Saturday, which represents, as it were, the last day of the world, and on Trinity, which represents the last day of the Old Testament Church before the revelation of the Church of Christ in all its strength on the Day of Pentecost, prays for all the departed fathers and brothers, and on the very The Day of Pentecost offers prayers to the Lord for them. One of these prayers says: “Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants, our fathers and brothers who have fallen before us, and other relatives in the flesh, and all our own in the faith, and we create memory of them now.”
Trinity is celebrated 50 days after . Hence the second name of the holiday -. In 2018.
The day before, on Trinity Saturday, they visit cemeteries and commemorate the dead, leaving treats.
What is Parents' Saturday
These are special days in Orthodoxy for commemorating the dead. Translated from Greek, Saturday means “intercession,” which is why on such days it is customary to remember one’s deceased parents and loved ones.
They remember those who have departed into the world with a different prayer and memorial service.
Memorial days 2018 in Ukraineafter Easter
On the 49th day after Easter passes Trinity Parents' Saturday. It precedes the revelation of the Kingdom of Christ in all its power on the day of Pentecost, as well as the beginning of the Apostolic Fast.
It is also called ecumenical, since on this day ecumenical memorial services are served in all Orthodox churches; they are dedicated to the remembrance of all deceased Orthodox Christians without exception.
Other dates for parenting Saturdays in 2018:
- September 11, 2018, Tuesday – Day of Remembrance of Deceased Orthodox Soldiers;
- November 3, 2018 – Dimitrievskaya Parents’ Saturday.
The latter is no less significant than Trinity. This is the Saturday before November 8 - the day of remembrance of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki. If the day of remembrance of this saint also falls on a Saturday, then the Saturday that was before the day of remembrance is still considered the parent's day.
Parents' Saturday: what to do
These days it is customary to remember relatives with prayer and a memorial dinner. On Trinity Parental Saturday they pray especially earnestly for those who died untimely and in a foreign country, far from their relatives, for those who did not have time to repent before death, and for whom no funeral rites were performed.
Believers go to church, ordering services there for the repose of deceased relatives. It is better to submit notes on the eve of the liturgy for a registered magpie with the names of relatives. At the same time, notes are submitted only to people baptized in the Orthodox faith.
If possible, you can visit the cemetery on this day, visiting the graves of relatives and friends. But in no case should you visit the cemetery instead of a memorial service - the priests insist that going to the cemetery is more desirable than obligatory, but attending the service or, at a minimum, reading funeral prayers at home is mandatory. According to them, holding a service in a church is more important than going to a cemetery, because prayer for dead people is much more important than visiting a grave.
Parents' Saturday: what not to do
According to folk traditions, on parental Saturday before Trinity, you cannot do housework, including even washing dishes.
The clergy, in turn, do not insist on a work ban. According to them, it is enough that household chores do not interfere with prayer and visiting temple.
Prayers on Parents' Saturday
Prayer for the departed
Rest, O Lord, the souls of Your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names) and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.
Prayer for a deceased Christian
Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your departed servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your glorified God in the Trinity, Faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and faith, even in You instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as You give generous rest: for there is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Trinity Saturday: signs
- From Trinity Saturday they don’t sweep for three days, on the fourth they clean the house;
- Rain on Trinity brings a harvest of mushrooms and berries, and there will be no frost all summer;
- On Trinity Saturday, this barley and hemp will produce well.
Trinity is a major Orthodox holiday, on the eve of which there is another important date called Trinity Parental Saturday. In general, there are several special days a year when it is customary to remember deceased relatives. These days you need to pray not only for your parents and grandparents whom you knew personally, but also for all your ancestors. It is important to know what is customary to do on this day and what should be avoided. In 2017, the parental date is June 3.
What are you supposed to do?
This is the day when we remember the dead. It is believed that if on this day we pray for those who have passed into another world, then they too will pray to God for us from heaven. You can remember not only your parents and relatives, but also your friends, relatives, acquaintances - everyone you want to remember on this day. Of course, the first thing you should do is pray for your deceased parents. On this day in the morning you should go to the temple to light candles for the repose and give prayer notes to the church. They write the names of those you want to remember - parents, relatives and just loved ones. On Trinity Parental Saturday, every church, temple, and parish holds an ecumenical memorial service, which occurs only on this day.
If you can’t go to church and attend a service, then hold a prayer service at home. There is a special requiem service, which is read with a lit church candle in front of the icons. The only requirement is that the prayer must be read thoughtfully, understanding the meaning of its words. Otherwise, there will be no benefit for the departed souls from your prayer service. Formal thoughtless reading of prayer will not bring relief to the dead.
After attending the memorial service, you should go to the cemetery. Trinity Parents' Saturday is a great day for cleaning graves, decorating them, and putting them in order. Weed out the weeds on and around the grave, wipe down the monument and tie a beautiful bow on it. Plant new flowers or put up artificial bouquets. The funeral meal can be held at home or directly at the cemetery.
What can't you do?
Any parent's Saturday, including Trinity, is not a church holiday. On the contrary, this is a mournful and sad day when we remember all those who have passed on to another world. Thus, it is quite logical that on this day you should not have too much fun, celebrate holidays and visit entertainment venues. Keep a low profile.
There is a belief that it is on Trinity Saturday that parents can be commemorated in church and pray for people who have committed suicide and unbaptized people. However, church officials claim that this is not so. On no day will the church pray for the repose of those who voluntarily took their own lives. The same applies to people who died unbaptized. If you have a desire, pray for these people yourself, at home, without visiting the temple.
There is another belief among housewives that states that no housework should be done on Trinity Saturday. This statement is completely false. Firstly, usually such a ban (and even then a weak one) occurs on major church holidays. Parents' Saturday cannot be classified as a holiday. Secondly, if household chores do not interfere with spiritual ones, then they can be done absolutely any day. The only thing is that in the morning you should visit the temple or pray for the souls of the departed at home, you need to find time to visit the cemetery and the graves of all people close to you. But after that you can take on any work.
Trinity Parents' Saturday is a time for mourning the dead, when the living pay tribute to the memory of the dead. Spend this day in prayer and thoughts about the salvation of your soul, and you can have fun on June 19, the day of the Trinity celebration.
Parents' Saturday is always celebrated before Trinity (June 15, 2019, June 6, 2020, June 19, 2021). On this day it is customary to remember all deceased Christians, regardless of the specific denomination. Therefore, this entire memorial Saturday before Holy Pentecost is called Ecumenical Trinity Parental Saturday.
The church hosts a special service - the Ecumenical Memorial Service, which you should definitely attend. This helps to cope with sad thoughts and helps to tune in to bright waves.
This day comes exactly one day before the holiday of the Trinity, and the Great Trinity, in turn, 50 days after Easter. According to the calendar in the coming years it will be like this:
How to remember the dead on Parents' Saturday
The Church calls departed people not dead, but departed. After all, the human soul is immortal, which means it simply left, and the human body fell asleep.
That is why we can and should remember our loved one - whether he is a relative, a friend, or just a good person. Therefore, it is useful to know who and how is commemorated on Parents’ Saturday before Trinity:
- As already mentioned, any dead Christian can be commemorated. Usually the church offers the following criterion: every baptized person is already a Christian. There is one important caveat associated with who is remembered on the Saturday before Trinity. It is not customary to remember the names of suicides. This issue is very delicate, and in some cases exceptions are even made. Therefore, it is better to ask a priest for additional advice.
- A believer should definitely go to church. Fortunately, Saturday is a day off, so there is every opportunity for this. The ecumenical memorial service begins in the morning, at approximately 08:30. It is better to check the schedule in advance by going to the temple the day before.
- By the way, the night before, it is better to submit a note with the names of the deceased. They simply write the person’s full name in Old Church Slavonic, for example “Tatiana”, “Boris”, “Theodore”, etc.
- After the service, you should not indulge in drunkenness, and in general consume even a little strong drinks. Such traditions go back partly to pagan, partly to Soviet times. If you think about it, what will our feast give to the deceased?
- Then how to behave on Memorial Saturday before Trinity? You should spend this day modestly, pray in the temple, for example like this:
Or you can simply say these words of prayer:
Remember, Lord, Name, your servant, and rest his soul, and forgive him his sins, voluntary and involuntary. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.
- Another important point associated with commemoration on Trinity Day, as on any other, is the distribution of alms. This must be done from a pure heart, without any thought of greed, much less self-interest. Moreover, alms can be expressed not only in money, but also in any feasible act, helping a person in need.
Parents' Day before Trinity: comments from priests
Representatives of the Orthodox Church are unanimous on how and who to remember on Saturday before Trinity (as well as on any other memorial day - Radonitsa or. First of all, a person must come to church in the morning.
At the same time, on Friday the day before, you can arrange a small memorial dinner - without alcohol and rich treats. After the morning funeral service in the church, they go to the cemetery and clean up the grave.
The commemoration takes place both in the church and in the cemetery. To do this, they bring a church candle (necessarily consecrated) to the grave, light it and read the funeral prayer.
You can use any text, including . Or you can even say the words that come to your heart. If a person is uncomfortable, he has the right to pray silently - the main thing is to do everything sincerely, from the heart.
At the same time, the priests especially emphasize that commemorating people at graves with food or, especially, alcohol is a pagan tradition. And for an Orthodox person such behavior is unacceptable.
Is it possible to go to the cemetery on Holy Trinity Day?
This is the rare case when the answer is unequivocal: no, on the bright day of Holy Pentecost itself it is not customary to visit the cemetery, tidy up the graves and remember the dead.
But, as you know, in fact, very often people do just that. Moreover, this folk tradition has been going on for a long time. Why is that? Everything is explained very simply, however, for this you need to remember our history.
Historically, it coincided that it is celebrated around the same time when the Slavs welcomed the onset of Rusal Week. According to popular belief, it is believed that at this time the souls of the deceased finally leave earthly boundaries and go to their new refuge. And mermaids and mermen, on the contrary, come out of their sea kingdom to lure random travelers to the bottom.
That is why, both on the eve of Trinity and on this day itself, people still continue to go to the cemetery according to the old custom. Besides, it’s a day off, and it’s also quite warm outside, because summer is coming.
However, it is important to understand that there is a special Trinity Parent Saturday for commemoration. Moreover, the spirit of this holiday does not quite correspond to the feelings that surround the grave of a loved one.
Of course, life situations cannot always be reduced to a common denominator. How, for example, should we remember a person if the anniversary or 40 days fell on Trinity Sunday? It’s better, of course, to pay attention to this event, but you shouldn’t forget about the holiday.
If there are any doubts, you can simply consult with a priest or spiritually close person. A kind word helps to navigate the situation, and in general, warm communication undoubtedly brings people closer together.
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